Summit aims to turn culture into commerce and community opportunity
Savannah will spotlight the economic power of Black culture this fall when Discover Black Savannah hosts the inaugural Tourism in the Black: Culture & Currency Summit on Sept. 4 as part of the city’s Soul & Flavor Weekend. The one-day event — backed by Airbnb as its official destination partner — will gather tourism leaders, entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals, policymakers, content creators and cultural organizations for focused sessions on translating cultural heritage into sustainable revenue and jobs.
The summit is designed to move beyond conversation and toward practical outcomes. Organizers say attendees will receive strategies, funding resources and technology insights they can apply to transform cultural assets into economic opportunity. Sessions on the schedule include panels about culture-as-currency, a forum presented by Airbnb called the Airbnb Culture & Community Exchange, and an exploration of artificial intelligence’s role in tourism promotion.
- What: Tourism in the Black: Culture & Currency Summit
- When: 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4
- Where: Part of Soul & Flavor Weekend (events continue Sept. 5)
- Cost: Free (advance registration required)
“We are honored to welcome Airbnb as our Official Destination Partner,” said Katina Wheeler, co-founder and CEO of Discover Black Savannah. “Together, we are creating a platform that celebrates culture while exploring innovative ways tourism can strengthen communities, support entrepreneurs and create lasting economic impact.”
Sessions and focus areas
The summit program mixes policy, practice and technology with sessions that organizers say will be useful to both established hospitality operators and emerging creative entrepreneurs. Scheduled topics listed by organizers include:
- Tourism in the Black: Culture as Currency
- The Airbnb Culture & Community Exchange
- The Influence Exchange
- Destination AI: The Future of Tourism
- Funding the Vision
- Legacy Conversation: Preserving Culture While Creating Commerce
These panels are framed to address multiple pressures Savannah faces: preserving heritage, broadening who benefits from tourism dollars, and using digital tools to tell authentic local stories. The summit’s dual emphasis on culture and commerce signals a push to make cultural stewardship an engine for inclusive economic development, rather than a byproduct of visitor activity.
Local impact and next steps
The summit precedes a public-facing weekend event, the Soul & Flavor Food Truck Fest, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Eastern Wharf. For local entrepreneurs, restaurateurs and cultural organizations, the pairing creates a concentrated moment to connect with visitors and industry partners at a time when Savannah’s hospitality sector continues to rethink how it markets the city.
| Event | Date | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism in the Black Summit | Sept. 4 | Policy, funding, tech, community partnerships |
| Soul & Flavor Food Truck Fest | Sept. 5 | Food, culture, public engagement |
Organizers say the summit is free but requires registration. Attendees should expect a mix of panels, networking and resource-sharing aimed at helping cultural entrepreneurs access funding and technical tools, including sessions targeted to content creators and hospitality operators exploring more authentic guest experiences.
For Savannah — a city whose identity and visitor economy are tightly bound to its historic neighborhoods and cultural traditions — the summit offers an opportunity to align tourism strategy with community priorities. By centering Black culture as a driver of tourism growth, Discover Black Savannah and partners are attempting to broaden who benefits from the city’s appeal while providing concrete pathways for entrepreneurs and cultural institutions to monetize and protect their work.
Advance registration details and session information are available through Discover Black Savannah. The summit’s outcomes will be watched closely by local stakeholders eager to convert conversation into funding, partnerships and measurable economic returns.
